Chapter III
More Light on the Tarot Trumps

In the Appendix to "Q. B. L. or The Bride's
Reception" I have shown the possibility of arranging the
Twenty-two Trumps of the Tarot on the Paths of the Tree of Life
so that the Astrological Attributions are in perfect order, and I
shall now trace out the Symbolism of the Cards themselves, and
attempt to show that this arrangement is the Original one, long
lost in the mists of antiquity.

The Diagram of the Tree of Life, with its attributions
according to this re-arrangement, forms the basis of our present
study.

Kether, The Crown of Light, is called AHIH
or Eheieh which means Pure Being, that which Is, prior to
"existence" or the "standing out" or
"coming forth" of the manifested Universe. It is also
call The Concealed of the Concealed, and the Supreme and
Concealed One which is therefore AMOUN. In
Egyptian the hieroglyphic is two feathers, which represent AA.
From this we obtain the idea of The One First and the One Last,
similar to Alpha and Omega. This sign also represents the
inherent idea of possible duality, or the apparent duplication of
the One. But again it may be translated IU
and is therefore the Root of "The Ever Coming One" of a
dual nature. From this idea sprang that of IU-PATER or Jupiter as the Father, and Io, the root
of Jove or Jehovah, which also symbolizes the Number Ten, or the
Ten Sephiroth inherent in the Being of the One.

Kether is also called the Sphere of the Primum Mobile, the
First Whirling Motion. It represents the Living Substance; being
potentially both Life and Substance in the Pure form of Light.

From Kether proceed the Ideas of the Father, Mother, and Holy
Spirit or Son.

The First ray produced Yod, in Chokmah, the next He in Binah,
and the third Vau in Tiphereth, and from this proceeded the final
He, the Daughter, in Malkuth.

On the Path from Kether to Chokmah is the Tarot Trump called
"The Wheel of Fortune," the Key of Destiny which is one
with the True Will, and also, some say, with Chance. This is the
Card of Iu-Pater, Jupiter the Father, and it symbolizes the Great
Wheel of Life; the Whirling Forces of the Primum Mobile, which
resulted in a System of Revolving Orbs, the Star Universe or
Sphere of the Zodiac, in Chokmah.

This Card depicts the Three Principles of Alchemy, Mercury,
Sulphur, and Salt; the Three Gunas, Satva, Rajas and Tamas; the
three forms of Force, Radiation,

Conduction and Convection; the States of Peace, Activity, and
Sloth. These are symbolized by the Sphinx, Hermanubis and Typhon
upon the rim of the

Wheel; while the "Centrum in Centri Trigono" is
concealed within.

This Life Force is active in the One Substance, which becomes
differentiated into the Four Elements as symbolized by the Four
Cherubic Beasts at the Corners or the Card. Also this is the
birth of Tetragrammaton, the Word of the Elements, coming into
Existence, or Becoming, as shown by the Letters Yod, He, Vau, He
on the Wheel. On this we also find the letters TARO
or ROTA and the suggestion of the Beginning
of Law as THORA.

This Ray of Light is the Essence of Wisdom, the Higher Will or
Purpose of the Universe, and as the Star Universe this becomes
apparent in Chokmah, the Sphere of the Zodiac, the Second
Sephira. It is the root of the Jupiter-Amoun Tradition of the
Fatherhood of God as a Supreme and Concealed Force, which on that
account was little comprehended by those who accepted the
Tradition of a Mother and Son, with the Son preceding the Father.

This Ray is the Essence of Light, but it becomes represented
in Chokmah as Grey, a mixture of colors which partially concealed
the Supreme Essence, thus causing the Root of Duality. From this
Path cometh the Tradition of the Light as the Word or Logos, who
was in the Beginning with God and who was God.

The Path from Kether to Binah is attributed to the Trump
called "The Universe" corresponding to Saturn, Kronus,
or Time. This represents the early tradition of SUT,
who later became identified with Set or Satan. Here we have the
beginning of the Tradition of the Fatherless Child and the
Mother, the Sut-Typhonian Mystery, as we shall see more clearly
later on.

The Card shows a Female Figure as the Mother of All Things,
but this conceals a figure of Dual-Sex, or the Idea of the
Two-Sexed Son, which afterwards became the Twin Horus, and later
the Two figures Sut-Horus, as Darkness and Light, and the Two
Horizons. The Ellipse shows the beginning of the Time Cycle, for
Saturn or Kronus was the Devourer of his Children, the Hours. It
also indicates how the Gods, the Tellers of Time, were to be born
from the Elementaries or Elements, under which form the earliest
ideas of the gods existed. The Card indicates the essential
natures of the Four Elements in the Undifferentiated Substance
from which they proceeded; or in the Womb of Time. The Four
Beasts at the corners again show this clearly, and the Card
itself is called "The Great One of the Night of Time."
In this Path "The Light shineth in Darkness but the Darkness
comprehendeth it not," for the Children of Time know not the
mystery of the Here and Now.

This Card is the synthesis of the Elemental Forces; the Figure
in the center directs the Positive and Negative Currents. It is
attributed to Saturn and symbolizes the Influence from the Crown
which resulted in the formation of the Sphere of Saturn or the
Sephira Binah, the Great Mother. The early tradition connected
the idea of the Great Mother with Typhon the Mother of Sut.

Binah is the Sphere of the Substance of all things, and it
balances that of Chokmah wherein is concentrated the Life Force.
Together they represent Living-Substance, the Father-Mother from
which all proceeds.

Binah is also called The Great Sea. All is said to have been
produced from Water brooded over by Spirit.

Uniting Chokmah and Binah we find the Path attributed to
"The Star" and the Sign Aquarius. This Sign is Ruled by
Saturn, and it will be noticed that it is connected with that
Sphere. But it also represents the mystery of the Star Universe,
which symbolism is derived from Chokmah.

The old G.D. Ritual (although attributing this card to the
wrong Path, as in the old order) states: "This Key
represents a Star with seven principal and fourteen secondary
rays, altogether twenty-one, the number of the Divine Name AHIH. (Notice AHIH is the
Divine Name of Kether immediately above.) In the Egyptian sense
it is Sirius, the Dog-Star, the Star of Isis-Sothis. Around it
are the seven planets. The nude figure is the symbol of Isis,
Nepthys, and Hathoor. She is Aima, Binah, and Tebunah, the
Great Supernal Mother Aima Elohim pouring upon Earth the Waters
of Creation. In this Key she is completely unveiled. The two urns
contain the influence of Chokmah and Binah. On the Right
springs the Tree of Life, on the Left the Knowledge of Good and
Evil, whereon the bird of Hermes alights, therefore the Key
represents the restored world."

This symbolism is so clear according to the Restored World
Plan of the Paths that it would seem to need little comment. But
there is much more that might be said.

The earliest calculation of Time centered in the revolution of
the Serpent round the Dog Star. The First Mother is said to have
given birth to the Seven Elementaries, who became the Seven Gods
or Planetary Intelligences, the tellers of Time. I may go into
this aspect more fully later on.

I have purposely made no mention of the Path from Kether to
Tiphereth, as this will be better understood if we first deal
with those from Chokmah to Tiphereth, and from Binah to
Tiphereth.

According to the Tarot Keys these are "The Sun" and
"The Devil"; the twins of Light and Darkness.

The Card of "The Sun" represents the Influence of
Chokmah or the Star Universe upon Tiphereth. The old G.D.
description may again be quoted, but how different it appears
when the card is in its proper place. "The Sun has twelve
principal rays which represent the Zodiac (Chokmah), these are
divided into 36 Decanates, and again into seventy-two Quinaries.
Thus the Sun itself embraces the whole Creation in its rays. The
Seven Hebrew Yods falling through the Air refer to the Solar
Influence descending. The Two Children, standing respectively
upon Water and Earth, represent the Generating influence of both,
brought into action by the Rays of the Sun. They are the two
inferior and passive elements, as the Sun and Air above them are
the superior and active elements of Fire and Air. Furthermore
these two Children resemble the Sign of Gemini."

Now, if we place the "Key" in position on its proper
Path, glancing for a moment at the complete diagram of the Paths,
we shall be able to draw some further conclusions.

The Sun, as a Star from the Sphere of Chokmah, is seen
descending to take up his Office in Tiphereth, as the Son of the
Father. The symbolism of the Sun shows the corrected
division of Time according to the Precession of the Equinoxes,
viz.: the Osirian calculation of the 365 ¼ days in the Year,
instead of 365 according to the Sut-Typhonians whose calculations
were made by the Dog-Star. Gerald Massey states "There is an
Egyptian legend which relates how Osiris in the 365th
year of his reign came from Nubia accompanied by Horus to chase
the Sut-Typhonians out of Egypt. By this we may understand that
the perfect Solar Year of 365 ¼ days was made to supersede the
Sun and Sirius Year of 365 days. In the battle for supremacy
Horus was aided by Taht, the Lord of the luni-solar
reckonings."

The two Children, or Twins, represent the twin theories, and
also the Horus Twins, and the Two Traditions, which resolve
themselves in Tiphereth.

Also the Wall of Red with its Blue Top represents the Barrier
and the Waters of Death. The Path attributed to the Key
"Death" is that from Chesed to Geburah, and it crosses
this Path of "The Sun." Again the Twins appear on the
Path of Gemini, which runs from Tiphereth to Hod.

Rider's Pack shows a different symbolism. The Sun and Wall
appear as before, but the Twins are replaced by a Child on a
White Horse. This is the Crowned Child, the Son of the Sun, who
has overcome Death and is the ruler of this Aeon.

Chokmah is the Root of Fire and this Card is called "The
Lord of the Fire of the World" showing the Sun as
representative of the Star Universe while ruling the World or
Malkuth the Tenth Sephira.

This is the Path of the Tradition of Light.

We may now examine the Path from Binah to Tiphereth which is
represented by "The Devil" and the Sign of Capricorn
which is ruled by Saturn from whose Sphere it springs.

This Key is called "The Lord of the Gates of Matter, the
Child of the Forces of Time," and it represents the Birth of
Matter from the Great Sea, or Mother, the One Substance. This is
the Way of the Children of Time, Saturn or Kronus. It is the Path
of the Tradition of Darkness, the twin-brother of Light, of
Lucifer, the Satanic Saviour who Fell from Heaven. This gave
birth to the idea of the Sun as the Devil or Satan, for it
represents the Sun in his material aspect, the Red Disk of Atum.

The Key shows the Twins chained by Time, while those of the
"Sun" Card are Free, since they receive the influence
of the Divine Will from Chokmah. The Italian Pack clearly shows
The Devil standing upon the Sun, and so does Levi. This is the
Card of Ayin, the Eye. It represents the Eye doctrine rather than
that of the Head or Heart. The Sut-Typhonian calculation of Time
was incorrect in representing the Year by 365 days.

Notice in this card there is also a Wall, but the color
symbolism is reversed. This again indicates the Wall of
"Death" whose path this one crosses in the same manner
as that of the Sun on the opposite side of the Tree.

This Path of "The Devil" represents the
Sut-Typhonian tradition of Set or Satan, as its ruler was
afterwards called. The Path of "The Sun" represents the
tradition of the Jupiter-Ammonians with Horus as its ruler. Horus
of the Star is the reconciler between them.

Both the traditions of Light and Darkness as opposed to each
other sprang from the Primal Idea of the Pure Spiritual Light of
The Ever Coming Son, IU, the Holy Child of Kether. So we may now
examine the Path from Kether to Tiphereth, that of the Influence
of the Supreme and Concealed Father of All becoming Manifested in
the Son in whom Glory and Suffering are identical.

This, by Tarot, is the Card called "Judgment"
attributed to the Letter SHIN, the true
Fire of the Spirit, and the progenitor of the Sun behind the Sun.
This is the equilibrated Triple Flame of the Supreme Godhead, the
Winged Globe of the Three Supernals, the Head of the Staff of the
Universal Mercury, the Absolute Reason of All Things.

The Influence of this Path causes the Dead to rise from their
tombs in the Resurrection of the pure Spirit and the Regeneration
of Matter. It passes through the Path of "The Star" as
the Child of Chokmah and Binah which overcomes Death. It is the
Path of the Ever-living One coming into Manifestation, it
represents the Absolute and Universal Tradition of the Golden
Age. "It is called the Card of Perpetual Intelligence
because it regulateth the motions of the Sun and Moon
(Tiphereth and Yesod) in their proper Order, each in an orbit
convenient to it" (Sepher Yetzirah).

The Paths of "The Sun" and "Devil" merely
suggest man's attempts to discover the true Motions and Order of
the Universe, and to translate them into Time. This Path actually
regulates these motions, therefore suggests, perhaps, the
true calculation of the Course of the whole Solar System round
the invisible Center of All.

It is said in the Old G.D. Ritual: "This card is a glyph
of the powers of fire. The Angel crowned with the Sun is Michael,
the Ruler of the Solar Fire. The Serpents which leap in the
Rainbow are symbols of the Fiery Seraphim. The Trumpet represents
the influence of the Spirit descending upon Binah (this according
to my opinion should be Tiphereth), the Banner and Cross refer to
the rivers of Paradise."

But in this Card we are able to trace the symbolism of the
Divine Breath of Kether, not whispering the Work in Chokmah, but
coming to us through the Trumpet of the Sun, ever proclaiming the
Brightness of the Lord and Giver of Life to all men. And this
Trumpet is the Horn that is exhalted for ever. The Path combines
the Mysteries of the Death and Resurrection as shown in "The
Sun"; and the Erection and Re-erection of "The
Devil" with the Generation and Regeneration of the Spirit.

As shown in "Q. B. L.," Shin represents the Roots of
the Elements, the essences of Kether, Chokmah and Binah,
concentrated in Tiphereth. It also represents "Number,"
the first of the Three Creative Sepharim of the Sepher Yetzirah.

Having dealt with the most direct influences descending upon
Tiphereth, and we must next consider the supporting Pillars and
the indirect influences through Chesed and Geburah.

Let us take the Path from Chokmah to Chesed, and then follow
the one from Chesed to Tiphereth, thus completing the Right side
first.

The Key to the Influence between Chokmah and Chesed is called
"Temperance" and is attributed to the Sign Sagittarius.
A Figure is seen pouring fluid from one urn to another. It
represents "Preservation," as opposed to the
"Destruction" of the Path of the "Blasted
Tower" on the opposite side, while the equilibrated Path in
the Center is that of "Creation" and
"Regeneration" as before noticed.

Sagittarius is the Sign symbolized by the Archer who is half
man, half horse. The Horse is said to be the gift to man of the
Goddess of Wisdom, viz.: Chokmah. This Sign is Ruled by Jupiter
and it receives the Influence of the Path of IU-PATER through Chokmah. It is also connected
directly with the Sphere of Jupiter or Chesed. This gives us some
indication of the dual-symbolism of the Forces of Life in the two
Urns held by the figure on the Card. We may also glimpse some
idea of the Ascending and Descending Arrows of the AA or IU. Again we have the ascent and descent of the
Wheel of Life or Zodiac which revolves, so to speak, as Chokmah,
between the two Jupiterial influences.

The Figure is clothed in Red and Blue, for Chokmah is the
"Root of Fire" and Chesed the "Sphere of
Water." It stands on Water, or Chesed, but the Robe
immediately above the Water is Red, for Sagittarius is a Fiery
Sign.

In Rider's Pack we actually see a "Path and a Sun"
to the left of the Figure, just where the Path of the Sun comes
in this arrangement. The Sign of Fire is on the Breast of the
Figure, above which is faintly seen the Hebrew IHVH,
the Word of the Father, Chokmah.

Chesed is the Sephira of Mercy (opposed to that of Severity,
Geburah) and also that of Authority for it Transmits or reflects
the Word of the Father or Logos.

The Path from Chesed to Tiphereth is that of "The
Moon" by Tarot and is attributed to the Sign of Pisces,
which in turn is Ruled by Jupiter. Through this Path came the
Piscean Tradition of the Fish-God, another aspect of Horus as the
Solar Deity or Son.

The Card itself is described in the old G.D. Ritual as follows
(we should place the card in position on the Tree and study the
symbolism carefully):

"It represents the Moon in its increase in the side of Gedulah
(Chesed), it has sixteen principal and sixteen secondary rays. Four
Hebrew Yods fall from it (4 = Chesed the representative of the
Law of the Father). There are two Watchtowers, Two Dogs and a
Crayfish. The Four Yods represent the letters of the Holy Name
(transmitted from the breast of the Figure of Temperance). The
Crayfish is emblem of the Sun (Tiphereth) below the horizon, as
he ever is when the Moon is increasing above."

As we shall see later the Path of the "Sun" is that
of the Setting Sun. The Moon God was known as "Sin"
whose word is restriction, and this has been characteristic of
the Piscean Age just passed. The true tradition of the Sun became
clouded in that age.

The Moon transmits some Light even if it is but a reflector of
the Sun. The Word of Sin being Restriction, we may notice how the
influence of "Preservation" became that of
"Repression" which is but a partial understanding of
the idea.

On the other hand, we should next study the Path from Binah to
Geburah and then the one from Geburah to Tiphereth. These
represent the opposite tradition of Over Indulgence, or
"Destruction" through Waste of Life.

The Path from Binah, the Primal Mother, to Geburah the Sphere
of Mars, is by Tarot "The Blasted Tower" and it is
attributed to the Planet Mars. Here we see another aspect of
Horus as the God of War and Vengeance.

The G.D. Ritual says: "It represents a Tower struck by a
lightning flash proceeding from a rayed circle and terminating in
a triangle. It is the Tower of Babel. The flash exactly forms the
Astronomical Symbol of Mars. It is the power of the Triad
(concentrated in Binah, 3) rushing down and destroying the Column
of Darkness (the Pillar of Severity, also the Dark Tradition).
The men falling from the Tower represent the fall of the Kings of
Edom."

"On the Right Hand side of the Tower is Light and
the representation of the Tree of Life by Ten Circles, on the Left
Hand is Darkness, and eleven Circles symbolizing the
Qliphoth."

Here the tradition of Light and Darkness is clearly indicated.
The fall of the Tower of Babel resulted in the loss of the
Universal Language, since when confusion has prevailed. The Sons
of Darkness for a time retrogressed, while the followers of the
Tradition of Light were advancing. This is the result of the
Positive and Negative Currents from the "Path of
Saturn" through Binah the Dark Sphere.

The influence of Mars, passing through Geburah, the Sphere of
Mars and of Severity, is transmitted to Tiphereth by the Path of
Aries, or "The Emperor." Aries is Ruled by Mars and is
the House of the Exaltation of the Sun. The Ram or Lamb was
sacrificed as a substitute for Man, so this path
represents "Substitution" as that of Pisces, on the
opposite side, represents "Reflection." Both are
partial truths. This Path also transmits the "Personal
Will" of Geburah to Tiphereth. When the Personal Will is
substituted for the Divine or True Will trouble arises. In
Tiphereth, The Heart, both the Personal and True Wills are
harmonized, or apparently so.

Aries and Pisces are seen with the Sun, or Tiphereth, as
reconciler between them, as in the beginning of the Great Cycle,
with the Sun in His Natural place, unaffected by the Precession
of the Equinoxes. In this position the Jupiter-Ammonian, and the
Sut-Typhonian controversy is temporarily harmonized.

The Reciprocal Path from Chesed, Mercy, to Geburah, Severity,
is that of "Death" the Great Transformer. The Sign
Scorpio is its Yetziratic attribution, and this is Ruled by Mars
the Destroyer. Death is both the enemy and the friend in one, for
in truth there is no "death," but only a "Change
of Life." The Card shows a Skeleton with a scythe, he is
cutting down heads (one of which is crowned) but the "rise
again" as soon as he passes over them, for the Influences of
the Paths of "Resurrection," "Regeneration,"
and "Re-erection" all play upon this one. The Path of
Shin, equilibrating Light and Darkness, rules over all, for this
Path is that of the Influence of IU the Ever-coming Son, the true
Horus whose appearance in Aries is as the Lamb, in Pisces as the
Fish, or in the earlier Signs as The Lion, The Beetle, The Twins,
or the Bull.

We have seen how the Influence of the Tradition of Light flows
down into Tiphereth through two channels. The Paths of IU-PATER, Chokmah, and The
Sun, and those of IU-PATER,
Chokmah, Sagittarius, Chesed, and Pisces.

We have likewise traced the Tradition of Darkness through the
Paths of Saturn, Binah and Capricorn, to Tiphereth; and also
through Saturn, Binah, Mars, Geburah, and Aries, to the same
Sphere.

The Universal Tradition which transcends both the Light and
the Darkness, descends from Kether-Pure Being, by the Path of
Shin or Spirit, through the Path of Aquarius, The Star of Hope,
and that of Scorpio, Death and Despair, directly upon Tiphereth.
This is the Line of Equilibrium between the Balanced Ideas of
Good and Evil; Light and Darkness; Preservation and Destruction,
etc. This is the Path of the Doctrine of the Heart, which unites
with those of the Eye and the Head (Ayin and Resh) in Tiphereth
the Sphere of the Heart, or the Son, wherein all things are
Beautified and Harmonized.

It should be noticed that the Direct Influence of the
Supernals upon Tiphereth comes from the Paths of Resh and Ayin
uniting with those of Shin and Tzaddi. The Numerical Value of
these Letters added to Tiphereth is 200 + 70 + 300 + 90 + 6 =
666, the Grand Scale Number of The Sun, and of the Beast or Man.
Again, the Descending Triad of the Sephiroth Binah, Chokmah,
Tiphereth is 326 [i.e. by concatenating the numbers of those
Sephiroth.-B.R.] the Numeration of ISHVH
the Redeemer, the formula of the Descent of Shin into IHVH or of Spirit into Matter. 326 is also the
Numeration of PARChVAL in the oldest form, which became PARZIVAL who is 418 in the New Aeon; thus
connecting him with ABRAHADABRA, the Word
of the Aeon, and the Reward of Ra-Hoor-Khuit; as will be more
fully discussed later on. For the moment we should notice that
The Beast, The Word of the Aeon, and Parzival are Harmonized in
Tiphereth, as are all aspects of the Sun and the Son, although
there may appear to be "division hither homeward."

The Sephiroth and Paths so far taken into consideration, form
the great Heavenly Hexagram, the Center of which is Spirit,
although this central point is not indicated by any Sephira, but
only by the Path of Shin. In the Tarot Key "The
Judgment" this Invisible Breath of Spirit proceeds from the
Mouth of the Trumpet in the Center of the Card.

If we examine this Hexagram, we notice that the Hebrew Letters
on the Paths forming the Hexagon, are as follows: Kaph, Samek,
Qoph, He, Pe, Tau: or 20+60+100+5+80+400 = 665 which is the
number of BITh HRChM, meaning The Womb. This does represent The
Womb of Creation, for these paths outline the Circle of the
"Key of Life" or Ankh, upon which the Tree of Life is
built.

We should notice also the peculiar arrangement of the
Hexagram. There are four interior Paths, forming the bases of
four similar Triangles. These Paths are those of "The
Star," "The Sun," "Death" and "The
Devil". They may be said to symbolically represent the Sun
in the Four Quarters. Thus, "The Devil," although the
basis of the Tradition of Darkness, represents the Rising Sun of
the Eastern Horizon; for SUT is the
"Opener" of the Day. This Dark Tradition gradually
resulted in a Lurid Dawn. The Path of "The Sun"
represents the Setting Sun, since the tradition of Light tended
to become "Twilight." This is the Path of Horus, Lord
of the Western Horizon, who closed the Day. Together they are
Sut-Horus the Twin Lion Gods. The Path of "The Star"
represents the Sun of Midday, at its height; thus "The One
Star in Sight" during the Day. This position of the Sun has
been called AHATHOOR, and in the Tarot Card
we see that Goddess. But AHA is also a
title of Horus, as is HAR and HAR-MAKHU, which means Horus
of the Star. This is his Name as Opener of the Year, and it is
His Influence which descends through the Path of Shin, as the Sun
behind the Sun.

The Path of "Death" represents the Sun of Midnight,
in the Underworld.

There came a period in Egyptian tradition when Four Suts were
recognized as those of the Four Quarters, these were then called
the Children of TUM, the Setting Sun, who
became ATUM, and afterwards ATUM-RA, the Solar Deity as Father of All Things. This
was the period when the Supreme and Concealed Father had been
entirely lost to the followers of the Tradition of Light, while
the Doctrine of the Mother and Child as First Cause had fallen
into disrepute as representing the Tradition of Darkness. The
Influence of the Supreme still descended upon Tiphereth, the Sun,
through IU, but was only recognized by the
few followers of the Universal Tradition of the Golden Age. All
these traditions became merged in Tiphereth and there Harmonized,
though the result was not an absolutely true one. An attempt to
establish the truth was made by Amenhatep IV, or King
Khu-en-Aten, who revived Aten Worship in place of that of Atum
Ra, or Amen Ra; but he was ahead of his time, and it remained for
the Present Aeon to re-establish the truth, as we shall endeavor
to show more clearly further on.

We may remark, however, that the Universal Mercury is said to
be "All present in Heaven and in Hell" so that we find
the Ideas of Lucifer or Satan as the Sun, blended with those of
the Sun of Light, and the Sun of the Universe, in the Heart of
Man. Also we may notice how the Higher Will comes down to
Tiphereth from Chokmah, and the lower or personal will through
Geburah. These are both blended in Tiphereth, the Heart.

The "Circle" of the "Key of Life" having
been formed; now follows the "Cross" which completes
the Ankh. But at this point we shall notice a
"Passover" or Crossing over of the dual Currents, for
the "Middle Pillar" is the Caduceus, and the
twin-serpents, while knotted together in Tiphereth, cross and
re-unite lower down. This is symbolized clearly by the Three
Mother Letters of the Elements, or the Three Sepharim of Number,
Writing, and Speech; as explained in Q. B. L.

These are Shin above Mem, above Aleph. We have already dealt
with Shin as IU, which it symbolizes perfectly, since if we place
the "I" inside the "U," the letter Shin is
formed. These are the letters of the Father and Son, who are
united in Tiphereth.

Let us now trace the Currents as they "cross-over".
The Influence from the Path of Aries, joining Geburah and
Tiphereth, passes through the latter and emerges as a channel
from Tiphereth to Netzach. This in the Tarot is the Key called
"Strength" and it is attributed to the Sign Leo which
is Ruled by the Sun.

The Card shows a Woman closing (or opening) the mouth of a
Lion. This is clearly the Woman of Venus, or Netzach, united with
the Lion of the Sun or Tiphereth. The Ram, or Lamb (another form
of Horus) has been sacrificed as a substitute, and passes through
the Solar Fire at the "Passover." In the City of the
Sun it may truly be said that "The Lion lies down with the
Lamb"; both are aspects of Horus, their paths are seen
united in Tiphereth.

This Lion may be called "The Green Lion" where the
Path meets Netzach (Emerald Green), and "The Red Lion"
as he approaches the Sun. Again we find symbolism of the Twin
Lions of Horus (as later they appear as the twin Sphinxes of the
Charioteer). We see the "Strength" of Geburah,
transmitted through the Ram and the Sun, to this Path, where its
Animal Nature becomes subdued by the Pure Love of the Woman of
Netzach. Thus the Dark tradition becomes purified through this
process.

On the other hand, the Path from Chesed to Tiphereth
("The Moon" by Tarot, or Sign of Pisces) emerges from
its Solar Bath, as the Path of "The Lovers" or Gemini,
which unites Tiphereth with Hod. Gemini is Ruled by Mercury whose
sphere is Hod. We may then trace the "Wisdom" from
Chokmah, through paths of Light, as it flows into this reservoir
of pure Reason, carrying with it the ideas of the "Pairs of
Opposites" from "Temperance", "The Moon"
(with its twin towers), and "The Lovers" or Gemini.

This Key, "The Lovers", depicts the Symbolism
perfectly. The Card shows the Sun above the heads of the Figures,
just as they are relatively to Tiphereth. Beneath it are the
Twins, the same Children we saw in the path of "The
Sun" transmitting the Tradition from Chokmah. They have
overcome the illusion of the "Moon" with its
restrictions. Cupid is seen with his Bow and Arrow (perhaps the
Bow of the Moon and the Arrow of Sagittarius). Sometimes this
card is shown as symbolizing a Man between two Women representing
Virtue and Vice (so-called). He must learn to treat them both
alike, and harmonize these ideas in the Light of Tiphereth, the
Heart. This was a very necessary lesson for the followers of the
White Tradition to learn, for the twilight had made their view
narrow and restricted, therefore an elements of Sin (the Moon
God) had entered, and the earlier Wisdom had been lost.

We may now consider the Influence of the Side Pillars. On the
one hand we find "Justice" or Libra which is Ruled by
Venus, bringing down the Mercy of Chesed to Netzach the Sphere of
Venus. Here we see the Law of Love coming into operation under
the Will of Chokmah, as it is written, "Love is the law,
love under will". Love needs to be Balanced in Netzach, thus
avoiding extremes. Opposite to this Path is that which transmits
the Strength of Geburah to the Sphere of Mercury or Hod. The
Influence herein operative is that of "The Hermit" or
Virgo, which is Ruled by Mercury. One must be reasonable in
regard to one's Virginity, but the Power of the Virgin is great.

Herein we find the Dark Tradition transformed into a wise
Reserve or Secrecy. The Hermit merely conceals the Light in his
Cloak, while he carries his Staff in his hand. This represents a
better adjustment of the Life, which is the Substance of Light;
the excess of the Path of the "Tower" is tempered down
to a wise control. This refers also to the Control of Speech; the
Tower was that of Babel, and its destruction caused the confusion
of tongues, while here we see a re-adjustment as this path enters
the Domain of Mercury, which contains the influence from Chokmah,
the "Word" lost to the Dark Brothers for a time.

Few realize the secrets of the Tradition of the Widow's son,
and the Substitute, and the Lost Word, as depicted in this Left
Hand side of the Tree.

Uniting the Sephiroth Netzach and Hod is the Path of "The
Hierophant", the Initiator into the Mysteries of Osiris the
Bull. This Path is attributed to the Sign Taurus which is Ruled
by Venus or Netzach. Venus and Mercury are herein united in a
Wise and Initiated Love of a reciprocal nature. We see two
Figures in this card, presided over by the Hierophant who is
blessing them in the Sign of the Trinity.

There is yet another Path from Tiphereth to Yesod which
crosses this one and influences it. This is the Path of "The
Hanged Man" attributed to the Letter Mem, and the Element
Water. It refers to "Writing" as the second Sepharim,
and by means of Written Tradition have the true mysteries been
transmitted, even thought the "writer" may never have
been recognized or known to men.

Here we see a figure of a Man suspended by one foot from a
gallows, his head and arms forming a triangle, above which his
legs form a cross. He is the Sun of the Sun, bringing down the
Light as far as Yesod, the Subconscious Mind of Humanity. His
body is reversed, as if reflected in the Waters, his Head is
surrounded by Glory, the reflection of Tiphereth and Kether. His
Head is thus in Yesod, the Sphere of the Moon which reflects the
Sun upon the Earth, or Malkuth. The shape of the Figure in
Rider's Pack perfectly symbolizes this position on the Tree.

His is the power of the Redeeming Love, usually considered as
self-sacrifice, but more truly representing the Justified One,
who says: "This is my body which I destroy, in order that it
may be renewed." The Mysteries of the Rose Cross are
transmitted through this Channel, the Initiation being attended
to by "The Hierophant". Two other Paths exert their
influence directly on Yesod, the Foundation, or Sphere of the
Moon; one leading from Netzach, and the other from Hod. The Coils
of the Twin Serpents fold back again here, the Current having
absorbed the influences of the Paths of the Side Pillars through
these two Sephiroth.

The Path from Netzach to Yesod continues the Influence from
the Path of Leo united with that of Libra. By Tarot it is
"The Chariot" which is attributed to the Sign Cancer,
ruled by the Moon (Yesod). This is a very important card indeed.
The Hebrew letter attributed to it is "Cheth" which is
418 the number of the Word of the Aeon ABRAHADABRA.
The Charioteer is one aspect of the Lord of the Aeon, and he is
in a certain sense the Initiator, for in this age the Influence
of the Constellation of Taurus comes to use through the Sign
Cancer according to the Precessional. He has harnessed the Black
and White Sphinxes, the Traditions of Darkness and Light, and he
uses them to draw his Chariot. He is under the Starry Canopy of
Love. He is the Child of the Powers of the Waters, for he has
descended by devious channels from the Great Sea; he is also the
Lord of the Triumph of Light in its higher sense. He has the
Strength of the "Lion" and the balance of
"Justice" combined with the Power of Love.

Dual Moons are shown on his shoulders, for, as Cancer, he is
closely connected with The Moon. The Lingam-Yoni and Winged Globe
appear on his cubical Chariot which represents "The
Foundation" or Yesod.

Opposite to him on the Tree is the Path from Hod to Yesod,
that of "The High Priestess" or "Priestess of the
Silver Star". This is attributed to "The Moon"
with which Sphere it unites. This is the Channel of the Serpent
of Light winding back from Hod and bringing with it the Influence
of the Paths of Gemini and Virgo.

The High Priestess knows the secret powers of the
"Lovers" and of the "Virgin". These she has
under control in the same sense that the Charioteer controls the
Sphinxes. She is truly his Counterpart. On her Lap is The book of
the Law, the lost Thora of the Wheel of the Tarot, transmitted so
wonderfully from the Path of IU-Pater through Chokmah, "The
Sun", Tiphereth, "The Lovers", and Hod. Note that
the Descent of this Law upon Tiphereth through Chokmah, was by
the Paths of Kaph (20) and Resh (200) and that Liber CCXX is the
Book of the Law; also that from Tiphereth, which is 6;
representative of the Father 10 and the Mother 5 (as Wisdom and
Understanding or IH) which make 15 and again through addition 6;
it passed into the path of Zain (The Sword) 7 and to Hod 8, thus
15 = 6 and through Gimel 3 (6 + 3 = 9) to Yesod 9, where it
entered the Subconscious Mind of Humanity as a seed of the Aeon.

The "Priestess of the Silver Star" is the Pure
Influence of the Higher Self on the Subconscious Mind,
transmitting the secret of the Star Universe and of the Silver
Star. She is the Initiator into the Mysteries of Nuit, as
"The Charioteer" indicates those of Hadit.

Our work, so far, has led us to an understanding of how the
Universal Tradition has been imbedded in the Subconscious Mind of
Humanity; built into its very Foundation and Substance. It is our
Great and Glorious Heritage from the Past, made up from the
Universal experience of the Race. But all men are not yet aware
of this. It is still "Unconscious" in most.

Now we come to the final stages of our Journey, wherein these
ideas are Manifested on the Material Plane. Malkuth, The Kingdom,
is the Sphere of the Elements, and is saturated with the subtle
influences, whereby the Fallen Daughter may become the Mother and
bring forth Man as the Crowned Child of the Aeon.

The Path from Hod to Malkuth is by Tarot "The
Magician" attributed to Mercury. This is the Wisdom and Will
of the Father in Heaven brought down to the Kingdom of Earth.
(Have we not prayed "Thy Will be done on Earth as it is done
in Heaven" and has it not been answered "Do what thou
wilt shall be the whole of the Law"). The Magician controls
the Elements by means of his Four Elementary Weapons under the
Direction of the Higher Will, as shown in the Card by the Wand,
the Cup, the Sword, and the Pentacle. His is the Path of the
Magic of Light and of Occultism. He is then the representative of
the Great Father upon Earth, and his influence is within every
father who realizes that he is a star.

The Path from Netzach to Malkuth is that of the
"Empress" and of Venus. She represents the Love which
regenerates the Kingdom when properly understood. The key shows
her crowned with the Diadem of Stars. She Transmits the
Understanding of the Great Mother. (So long misunderstood and
thought of as the unmated and despised Woman of the Dark Sphere).
Hers is the Path of Mysticism and Devotion, and of those who
would be absorbed in the Absolute. She Represents the Great
Mother upon Earth and is the Influence within every mother who
knows Herself to be a Star.

Thus is this Kingdom supplied with Wisdom and Love, and lastly
with Power, for we must finally consider the Path from Yesod to
Malkuth, that of the "Pure Fool", and the All-Wandering
Air, the Reconciler in all things. This is the Path of the
Crowned Child of the Spirit who is in the Heart of all Humanity
when he is brought to birth upon the Earth. This is the Path of
those who follow neither the way of Magick nor of Mysticism, but
the "Way of the Tao". These are the Masters of both
Will and Love for they UNCONSCIOUSLY do the
Work of the Father. Just as a Child naturally rules over his
parents and is able to obtain his slightest desire, without
effort, so must all Serve the Crowned Child the Lord of the Aeon.

This Path transmits the Universal Tradition of the Central
Pillar-the Pillar of Mildness and Peace. This is the Pathway of
the Light to be discovered amid the contending forces and the
darkness of matter. This Path of the Holy Spirit of the Sun
behind the Sun is that of the Letter Aleph. In it the two A's of
the Beginning have become One. It is the Path of Air, the third
Sepharim, or of Speech. But this is the Power of Speech in the
Silence, of Harpocrates hidden within Horus. It is also the true
Power, as it is written;

Unity uttermost showed,
I adore the Might of Thy Breath,
Supreme and Terrible God
Who makest the Gods and Death
To tremble before Thee,
I, I adore Thee.

This is the Path of IU,
Horus-Harpocrates, the Ever Coming One, and of Har-Machis, Horus
of the Star, the Opener of the Ways of Eternity. This is the Path
of the Here and Now, transcending those of Time and Space. This
is the Path of Truth, which Is Now, as It Was in the Beginning,
and Ever Shall Be, MALKUTH without End. AUMN.